Feeding preferences of Coptotermes heimi (Isoptera: Termitidae) under laboratory and field conditions for different commercial and non-commercial woods. (29th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rasib, Khalid Zamir; Ashraf, Hina
• Is Part Of: International journal of tropical insect science. Volume 34:Number 2(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2014-05-29
• Subjects: Insect pests -- Tropics -- Periodicals; Beneficial insects -- Tropics -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Tropics -- Periodicals; 595.70913
• DOI: 10.1017/S1742758414000290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7584

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Coptotermes heimi</italic> (Wasmann) is a termite widely present throughout Pakistan and causes detrimental effects in standing trees. In this study, the feeding preferences of <italic>C. heimi</italic> for 18 different wood species were determined through choice and no-choice trials under laboratory and field conditions. In no-choice laboratory trials, different combinations of wood blocks were used to determine wood consumption by <italic>C. heimi</italic>. Weight loss, consumption/individual and survival rate were evaluated. <italic>Populus euramericana</italic> was found to be the most susceptible wood species and <italic>Syzygium cumini</italic> the most resistant one. Nine different wood combinations were used under choice laboratory conditions; maximum feeding was recorded in <italic>P. euramericana</italic> and <italic>Pinus roxburghii</italic> (50.8–24.5 mg). However, minimum feeding was recorded in <italic>S. cumini</italic> (2 mg) and <italic>Tectona grandis</italic> (14.9 mg). Under no-choice field conditions, minimum feeding was recorded in <italic>S. cumini</italic> (9.5 mg) and maximum feeding in <italic>P. euramericana</italic> (60.5 mg). Under choice field conditions, maximum (58 mg) feeding was recorded in <italic>P. euramericana</italic> and minimum feeding in <italic>S. cumini.</italic> Feeding preferences in descending order based on wood consumption as a quantitative parameter documented were as follows: <italic>P. euramericana>Ailanthus excelsa>Azadirachta indica>P. roxburghii>Butea monosperma>Morus alba>Bauhinia variegata>Albizia lebbeck>Dalbergia sissoo>Heterophragma adenophyllum</italic>><italic>Erythrina suberosa>Cassia fistula>T. grandis>Mangifera indica>Eucalyptus camaldulensis>Jacaranda mimosifolia>Bambusa bamboo>S. cumini.</italic></p> </abstract>